39TH ARMY, SHENYANG MILITARY REGION, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81T00380R000101010001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 1, 1981
• Content Type: REPORT

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Imagery analysis report
39th Army, Shen yang Military
Region, China
Top Secret
IAN-OQ25X11
MARCH 1951
copy 17 0
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39TH ARMY, SHENYANG MILITARY REGION, CHINA j
1. This re ort discusses the status of the 39th Army in the Shenyang Military Region (MR),
China, as of It describes physical and functional changes in the facilities and order-of-
battle changes and fluctuations for the period The functions and
locations of these units were derived primarily from KEYHOLE imagery.
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2. 1 The 39th Army has been highly active in training during the reporting period as evi- 25X1
denced by the amount of track marks on the wheeled- and tracked-vehicle training courses throughout the
army area. The small-arms firing ranges, infantry training areas, and tank subcaliber ranges have also
been used extensively during the period, suggesting that all elements of the army are being trained
simultaneously.
3. (U) This report contains two location maps, one organizational chart, one table, and nine anno-
tated photographs.
4. ~The 39th Army is one of six main force armies in the Shenyang MR and has the same 25X1
general organizational structure as the ground forces units throughout China-the rule of three. Three
infantry divisions are subordinate to the 39th Army.
5. The 39th Army is in southern Liaoning Province (Figure 1) and protects the area from 25X1
the ingress of unfriendly forces into China. The 39th Army Headquarters and its subordinate units are at
Yingkou Xian. The three infantry divisions subordinate to the 39th Army are tactically deployed two
forward and one to the rear, based on the perceived threat from the east or southeast. The two forward
divisions, the 115th and 116th, are at Gaixian and Haicheng, respectively. The rear division, the 117th, is
at Shishan. All of the units of the 39th Army are situated near rail transportation (Figure 2) which gives
this army a high degree of mobility and flexibility.
6. The 39th Army, previously the 2nd Column of the Northeast China People's Liberation 25X1
Army, was organized in March 1947 from troops who moved into northeast China from Shandong in
1945. At the time of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) reorganization in November 1948, the 2nd
Column and its subordinate 4th, 5th, and 6th Divisions were redesignated the 39th Army with its organic
1 15th, 116th, and 117th Infantry Divisions, respectively.'
7. The 39th was one of the first Chinese armies to fight UN forces in Korea during the first 25X1
campaign. It had many successes from October 1950 to November 1952, then returned to the Yingkou/-
Dashiqiao area in March 1953 where it has remained. Some time prior to February 1971, the 117th
Division moved from Fuxian to Shishan. This was the previous location of the 119th Infantry Division,
40th Army.'
8. The organizational chart (Figure 3) is based on analysis from photographic intelligence; 25X1
the numbered unit designators used in Table 1 were acquired from referenced documents 2 and 3.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
9. ~The 39th Army comprises the 39th Army Headquarters, the 115th Infantry Division (inf 25X1
div), the 116th Inf Div, and the 117th Inf Div (Figure 3).
39th Army Headquarters and Subordinate Units
10. 1 The 39th Army Headquarters at Yingkou Xian consists of an army headquarters unit, 25X1
an antiaircraft artillery (AAA) regiment, an engineer battalion, and an artillery regiment.
11. (S/D) The headquarters is housed at Yingkou Xian Headquarters Army and Barracks AL-5. No
physical or functional changes have been observed here during the reporting period.
12. (S/D) The subordinate AAA regiment is housed at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-6. There
has been no physical or functional change to the facility during the reporting period. AAA order of battle
(OB) has been observed here in the past when the AAA was parked in the open; however, there is
sufficient vehicle storage space to house the organic equipment of this unit.
13. (S/D) One AAA battery (six AA guns) has been frequently seen parked in area BI of Yingkou
Xian Army Barracks West AL-2. These weapons are probably associated with the AAA regiment normally
housed at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-6 .
14. (S/D) The engineer battalion subordinate to the army headquarters is housed at Yingkou Xian
Army Barracks AL-8. This facility has not changed functionally during the reporting period, but area Al
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I
Shenp!1%I
._'Xaei'
K nmi
C'unn
SHENYANG
MILITARY
REGION l
39th '1
ARMY
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF SHENYANG MILITARY REGION AND THE 39TH ARMY, CHINA
of the facility on the National Basic Reference Graphic4 (NBRG) should be expanded to include two small
areas approximately 0.5 nautical miles (nm) east of the existing facility (Figure 4). One area probably
houses the support elements for the engineer battalion and contains five barracks, three quarters, one
messhall, two vehicle storage buildings, 16 arch-roofed vehicle storage bays, and five storage/support
buildings. The second area, probably housing the POL elements of the engineer battalion, is immediately
southwest of the first area and contains two probable barracks, one messhall, two probable vehicle/equip-
ment storage buildings, nine support buildings, and four large POL storage tanks. The addition of the two
aforementioned areas to the existing facilities now incorporated under the NBRG will provide sufficient
vehicle storage space to house all the elements of the battalion. It also provides the unit with sufficient
POL storage to support unit operations.
15. The probable 142nd Artillery Regiment subordinate to the army headquarters is housed
at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-3. There have been no physical or functional changes at this facility
during the reporting period. The OB count observed here has been low, but the facility contains sufficient
vehicle and equipment storage space to house the organic assets.
16. This facility is assessed in the latest NBRG4 as housing the howitzer and mortar
battalions from the 395th Artillery Regiment, 115th Inf Div, housed at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks
Southeast AL-1; however, the low counts of OB at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-3 do not substantiate
this assessment.
115th Infantry Division
17. The 115th Inf Div is in Yingkou Xian, Gaixian, and Maoji Tun. The units are adjacent
to the rail line traversing north and south through the Liaotung Peninsula. This division contains a
headquarters and its support units, three infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, and one tank regiment
(Figure 3).
(Continued p. 7)
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Table 1.
39th Army Units Derived from All-Source Information
11to table ii, its entirety is cla.%.%ified TOP SECRET RUFFF-
39th Army HQ and Support Units
Hq 39th Army
115th Infantry Division
Hq, 115th Inf Div
Unid engr bn
Yingkou Xian Hq Army and Bks 40-38-14N
AL-5 122-30-16E
Yingkou Xian Army Bks AL-6 40-38-OON
122-27-30E
Yingkou Xian Army Bks AL-8 40-38-45N
122-31-15E
Yingkou Xian Army Bks AL-3 40-37-39N
122-33-01 E
343rd Inf Regt Maoji Tun Army Bks AL-I 40-45-ION
I22-37-02E
344th Inf Regt Yingkou Xian Army Bks W 40-38-0IN
AL-2 I22-27-59E
345th Inf Regt Gaixian Army Bks NW AL-2 40-26-04N
122-I 9-53E
395th Arty Regt Yingkou Xian Army Bks 40-37-26N
SE AL-I 122-31-14E
116th Infantry Division
Hq 116th Inf Div
Unid AAA hn
Unid engr bn
Yingkou Xian Army Bks AL-7 40-34-18N
122-30-16E
Haicheng Hq Inf Div & 40-51-40N
Army Bks NE AL-I 122-44-52E
346th Inf Regt Haicheng Army Bks North 40-52-40N
AL-3 122-44-30E
347th Inf Regt Haicheng Army Bks S AL-5 40-47-50N
122-45-I7E
348th Inf Regt Haicheng Army Bks SW AL-6 40-48-05N
122-40-5 I F
Haicheng Army Bks E AL-2 40-50-57N
122-45-52E
When OB was last seen
here ono
it consisted of 20 AA guns,
9 prob ZPU-2/4
AAHMG, 3 puss FIRE CAN.
2 puss PUAZO-6, and
3 poss cargo trailers
See text para 14 and
Fig 4
See text para I S
and 16
18 ponton sections and
18 cargo trucks last
here on~ see
text para IS and Fig 5
See text para
20 and Fig 6
When OB was last seen here
on it consisted of
3 AA guns, 2 poss FA
pieces, I cargo truck, and 2
pieces of equipment: see text
para 22, and Fig 7
here on
it consisted of IS 37mm
AA guns, 2 van trucks, 27
cargo trucks. I bus,
and I vehicle
See text para 28 and
Fig 8
here on
it consisted of 15 proh FA
pieces, 9 cargo trucks,
and 3 probable derelict tanks,
see text para 29 and Fig 9
117th Infantry Division
Hq 117th Inf Div Shishan Hq Inf Div and 47-17-17N
Unid AAA hn Arm% Bks AL-I
Unid engr bn
Probable 322nd Tank Regt
349th Inf Regt Shishan Army Bks SW AL-2 41-I5-12N
121-28-44E
350th Inf Regt Luyang Army Bks SW AL-2 41-20-40N
121-35-I IF
351st Inf Regt Luyang Army Bks NW AL-I 41-23-38N
121-38-07F
397th Arty Regt Shishan Army Bks SW AL-3 41-14-34N
121-30-06 E
*KEY
AAHMG -Antiaircraft Heavy Machine Gun
PUAZO-6-AAA, Fire Control Director
FIRE CAN -AAA, Fire Control Radar
FA-Field Artillery
ZPU-2/4-Antiaircraft Heavy Machine Gun
Top Secret
See text para 31
and Fig 10
Sec text para 33
and Fig I I
See text para 35
and Fig 12
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 I-HSIEN
391
HIN-HSIEN
YU-HUNG TU
----I 30'"
?1W
I?u-sho
TIGER LILY 39th Army HQ Units
EMERALD GREEN - 115th Inf Div Units
PURPLE - 116th Inf Div Units
COCOA - 117th Inf Div
Regiment 0? Tank
EJ Division Antiaircraft
artillery
EI Army Efl Artillery
? Infantry
IN-CHOU; ,
3250
3950
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FIGURE 2. LOCATIONS OF UNITS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 39TH ARMY
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FIGURE 3. 39TH ARMY UNITS CONFIRMED FROM IMAGERY ANALYSIS
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NPIC T-1070
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IUp I eLrCL nvrr 1
18. ~ The 115th Division Headquarters and the engineer battalion subordinate to the division 25X1
headquarters are housed at Gaixian Headquarters Infantry Division and Army Barracks AL-1 (Figure 5).
The division headquarters portion (Area Al) of the installation remains physically and functionally un-
changed; however, in the engineer portion (Area BI) of the facility three vehicle storage buildings contain-
ing a total of 38 arch-roofed storage bays have been added since the latest NBRG4 was published. These
new buildings are adjacent to the hospital in the northeast corner of the installation and should be
incorporated into the engineer battalion area (BI). This added vehicle storage space gives this facility the
capability of housing all of its organic equipment under cover.
19. The 343rd Infantry Regiment is housed at Maoji Tun Army Barracks AL-I. There have 25X1
been no physical or functional changes at the facility during the reporting period.
The facility has remained unchanged physically and functionally during the reporting period; but, Area
Bl, which is now separately delineated by the NBRG4, and assessed to contain an AAA battalion, should
be incorporated into Area Al as the ammunition/munitions storage area (Figure 6). The AAA battalion
frequently seen parked in the small field adjacent to this area is probably from the AAA regiment housed
at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-6. Additionally, extensive infantry training and antipersonnel
trenches are immediately west and south of this facility.
21. The 345th Infantry Regiment is housed at Gaixian Army Barracks Northwest AL-2
No
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.
physical or functional changes have been observed during the reporting period.
22. The 395th Artillery Regiment is housed at Yingkou Xian Army Barracks Southeast AL-
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I (Figure 7). The facility has not changed functionally during the reporting period. Physical changes,
however, were extensive and the facility now contains seven barracks, three messhalls, seven vehicle/e-
quipment storage buildings, and four support buildings. The facility appears to have the capability of
housing its organic weapons under cover; however, no field artillery has been identified here since ^
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The NRBG4 assesses Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-3 as housing the mortar and
LOA I
howitzer battalions of the artillery regiment, but the low counts of OB at AL-3 do not substantiate this
assessment. The two installations may, however, share the same maintenance facilities.
23. The probable 320th Tank Regiment subordinate to the 115th lnf Div is housed at 25X1
Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-7. There have been no physical or functional changes at this facility
during the reporting period. Only ten armored vehicles have been seen here during the reporting period.
but the facility has the storage capacity to house all of its organic equipment.
116th Infantry Division
24. The I16th Infantry Division is at Haicheng. Like the 115th Inf Div, it is along the rail 25X1
line traversing north and south through the Liaotung Peninsula. The division contains a division head-
quarters and its support units, three infantry regiments, and one artillery regiment (Figure 3).
25. (SAD) The division headquarters unit and the supporting AAA and engineer battalions are
housed at Haicheng Headquarters Infantry Division and Army Barracks Northeast AL-l. There have been
no physical or functional changes at this facility during the reporting period.
26. The 346th Infantry Regiment is housed at Haicheng Army Barracks North AL-3. There 25X1
have been no physical or functional changes at the facility during the reporting period.
27. The 347th Infantry Regiment is housed at Haicheng Army Barracks South AL-5. No 25X1
physical or functional changes have been observed here during the reporting period.
28. The 348th Infantry Regiment is housed at Haicheng Army Barracks Southwest AL-6 25X1
(Figure 8). This installation has been reconstructed since the NBRGa was published on 25X1
The new facility contains 50 barracks, two C-shaped probable administration buildings, one auditorium,
15 messhalls, 18 storage/support buildings, three vehicle storage buildings containing 45 arch-roofed
sections, four vehicle/equipment storage buildings, an exercise/parade field containing two dual-lane
obstacle courses, seven dependents quarters buildings, and 27 livestock pens. The function of the facility
remains unchanged.
29. The 396th Artillery Regiment and the 321st Tank Regiment (Areas Al and BI, respec- 25X1
tively, of the NBRG4), both subordinate to the 116th Infantry Division, are assessed by the NBRG as
being housed at Haicheng Army Barracks East AL-2. Analysis of available imagery covering this installa-
tion indicates the presence of the 396th Artillery Regiment only. No armor or track activity has been
observed within the installation since Three derelict tanks remain present, however, they are 25X1
probably being used for training. Additionally, field artillery has been seen throughout the entire facility,
indicating that the old armor facilities are being utilized for weapon maintenance. For these reasons, this
installation is assessed as not containing any armor or armor-related functions. Area BI should be deleted
as a separate area from the NBRG and the entire facility marked as Al housing the 396th Artillery
Regiment (Figure 9).
(Continued p. 12)
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117th Infantry Division
30. The 117th Infantry Division is at Shishan. The units are situated along the rail line
between Shenyang and Jinzhou. The division contains a division headquarters and its support units, three
infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, and one tank regiment (Figure 3).
31. The infantry division headquarters unit, the engineer battalion, the AAA battalion, and
the probable 322nd Tank Regiment are housed at Shishan Headquarters Infantry Division and Army
Barracks AL-I (Figure 10). Since the NBRG4 was published, extensive physical changes have been ob-
served within the installation. The division headquarters unit area (Al) and the AAA battalion area (A2)
remain virtually unchanged; however, extensive renovations have been made within the other unit areas of
this installation. In the engineer battalion area (A3), 35 additional arch-roofed vehicle storage bays have
been added and foundations for four additional buildings have been laid in the ammunition/munitions
storage area. In the tank regiment area (BI), six barracks have been newly constructed or renovated and
the subcaliber range adjacent to the maintenance and storage facility has been refurbished. Extensive
facilities for antitank, antipersonnel, infantry, and small-arms training are throughout the installation. No
functional changes within unit areas in this facility have been observed.
32. The 349th Infantry Regiment is housed at Shishan Army Barracks Southwest AL-2.
There have been no physical or functional changes at the facility during the reporting period.
33. The 350th Infantry Regiment is housed at Luyang Army Barracks Southwest AL-2. No
physical or functional changes have been observed at this facility during the reporting period, but the
regimental rear-support units were omitted when the NBRG4 was published. The boundaries of Al should
he extended to include the area adjacent to and immediately north-northeast of the installation (Figure
I I ).
34. The 351st Infantry Regiment is housed at Luyang Army Barracks Northwest AL-l. No
physical or functional changes have been observed here during the reporting period.
35. The 397th Artillery Regiment is housed at Shishan Army Barracks Southwest AL-3. The
facility encompasses two areas (Al and A2; Figure I f). No physical or functional changes at Area Al have
been observed during the reporting period. Extensive changes have been observed in Area A2. The area
now contains eight barracks, one administration building, four messhalls, four storage/support buildings,
one maintenance building, one workshop, three vehicle storage buildings containing a total of 47 arch-
roofed vehicle storage bays, and a separately secured dependent housing area containing eight dependents
housing buildings and six support buildings. The NBRG4 assesses this area as containing a mortar battal-
ion only. However, when last observed, both mortars and howitzers were seen in this area, suggesting both
types of weapons are housed here.
IMAGERY ANALYST'S COMMENTS
36. In general, few changes have been observed in the units or facilities comprised in the
39th Army. The predominant changes observed have been of a physical rather than of a functional nature.
37. (SAD) Each of the artillery regiments subordinate to the infantry divisions appears to contain
two howitzer battalions and one mortar battalion. There is no evidence that either the army- or division-
level artillery regiments in this army have received the truck-mounted BM-14/17/19 multiple-rocket laun-
chers,
38. (SAD) None of the AAA battalions subordinate to the infantry divisions has been identified.
Although one AAA battery was frequently seen near Yingkou Xian Army Barracks AL-2, NPIC assesses
this battery as being an integral part of the army-level AAA regiment housed at Yingkou Xian Army
Barracks AL-6.
39. No tank regiment was observed with the 116th Infantry Division.
40. Although small amounts of equipment were seen in open storage throughout the 39th
Army, this army appears to have the bulk of its organic equipment. The army is highly active as evidenced
by the extensive training activity observed and the continued upgrading of many of the facilities through-
out the army area.
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REFERENCES
IMAGERY
(TSR) All applicable KEYHOLE imagery acquired through was used in the preparation of this 25X1
report.
MAPS OR CHARTS
DMAAC. Operational Navigation Charts; Series ONC; Sheet F-9, 3d ed, Apr 73, and Sheet G-10, 8th ed, Jul 76;
scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
DOCUMENTS
1. NSA. 3/00/34905-74 (CCM), The Chinese People's Liberation Army: Ground Forces, 20 Dec 74 (TOP SECRET
3. DIA. DDB-1100-201-79. SI-271322/79, Combined Ground Order-of-Battle (GOB) China (CH) (U), Aug 79
(TOP SECRET
4. DIA. NDA-07/5191 /78-NDA-07/5214/78. NBRGs, 39th Army, China, 24 Oct 78 (SECRET
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DIA. DDB-1100-209-79, Tables of Organization and Equipment (TOE), People's Republic of China (PRCA) (U),-
Sep 79 (SECRET)
CIA/OIA. IS 77-10139K, Imagery Anal sis Memorandum, Unit Analysis of the 39th Arntr, Sheet 25X1
ang Military Region, China, 17 Jan 78 (TOP SECRET 25X1
Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
(S) This report has been coordinated with members of the Shenyang subgroup of the interagency China Ground
Forces Working Group.
25X1
ZDA I
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